Lubricator mechanism for a picker spindle



y 1962 A. J. DE PELLEGRINI ET AL 3,043,343

LUBRICATOR MECHANISM FOR A PICKER SPINDLE Filed Jan. 22, 1960 mm "am Arrae/vsw' United States atent 3,043,343 LUBRICATOR MECHANISM FOR A PICKER SPINDLE Albert J. De Pellegrini, 128 Prospect Heights, Stalford Springs, Conn, and Philias J. Martell, 22 Main St., Somerville, Conn.

Filed Jan. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 4,064 6 Claims. (Cl. 139-458) The present invention relates to a lubricator mechanism for the picker spindle of a loom.

The picking mechanism of a loom includes along horizontally disposed picker spindle secured to the lay behind the shuttle box along which a picker is driven by the picker stick. In order that the shuttle travel freely from one shuttle box to the other along the lay, it is necessary to provide smooth running for the picker so that the latter will slide easily along the picker spindle. Any lubricating device normally engaging the picker spindle must be moved out of the way to allow the picker to pass on the spindle. In the past numerous devices have been proposed for lubricating the spindle and means has been provided for each device for shifting it from the position engaging the spindle to a position out of the way of the picker.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lubricator mechanism for a picker spindle in a loom which is automatically shifted out of the" way by engagement by the picker as the picker travels along the spindle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lubricator mechanism for a loom picker spindle which normally has lubricating fluid applying means engaging the spindle during part of the movement of the lay, such means being shifted automatically by engagement by the picker to a position out of engagement with the spindle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lubricator mechanism for a picker spindle which is simple in structure, one which lends itself to attachment to and detachment from the loom with ease and facility, one which may be manufactured in quantity at reasonable cost and one which is highly effective in action.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a por tion of a picker spindle showing the picker thereon and a portion of the picker stick, with the lubricator mechanism of the present invention shown in inoperative position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view showing in full lines the reservoir and lubricant applying means in the normal position in which the applying means engages the picker spindle, the dotted line showing the swung-away position.

FIGURE 3 is a View taken on the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2, the dotted line showing indicating the swung-alwa position.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the reference numeral in FIGURES l to 3 designates generally the frame of a loom having a horizontally disposed picker spindle 12, along which is slidable a picker 14. The picker 14 is driven along the spindle 12 by the action of a picker stick 16 of conventional arrangement and operation for which no description is required.

The lubricator mechanism of the present invention is 3,043,343 Patented July 10, 1962 designated generally by the reference numeral 20 and it comprises an upstanding elongated tubular lubricant reservoir 22 having a lubricant applying means or wick 24 projecting from the bottom thereof.

The reservoir 22 is supported against an arcuately curved one face of a block 26 by means of a clamp member 28 circumposed about the reservoir 22 and having its ends detachably secured to the block 26. A horizontally disposed bar 30 has one end fixedly supported in the frame 10 by means of a stud 32 and nut 34 on the stud 32. The other end of the bar 30 has a reduced portion 36 (FIGURE 3) on which is rotatably mounted the block 26. A collar 35 is adjustably secured on the reduced portion 36 exteriorly of the block 26 by means of an adjustable set screw 40.

The collar 38 is provided with an obliquely arranged bore through which extends one end portion of a rod 42 which has a mid portion extending across the reservoir 22 intermediate the ends of the latter. The other end portion of the rod 42 extends on the other side of the reservoir 22 and is connected by a spring 44 to a rearwardly projecting part 46 of the block 26.

The horizontal part of the rod 42 which extends across the intermediate part of the reservoir 22 serves as a stop for the reservoir 22 limiting its swinging movement in the clockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 2.

The spring 44 constitutes spring means biasing the resservoir 22 to the position in which the wick 24 engages the picker spindle 12, or a full line position shown in FIGURE 2.

An actuator, in the form of a horizontally disposed arcuately curved bar 48, is fixedly supported upon the reservoir 22 adjacent the wick 24 and lies in the path of the picker 14 as the latter slides along the spindle 12. The bar 48 is provided with a clamp means 50 formed integrally therewith and circumposed about the lower end portion of the reservoir 22 and secured thereto by an appropriate bolt and nut assembly 52.

In operation, the mechanism 20 is secured to the frame 10 by providing a hole 54 in the frame 10 for the reception therethrough of the stud 32 on the one end of the bar 30. The bar 30 is securely locked in place on the frame 10 by means of the nut 34 and the block 26 is mounted upon the reduced portion 36 of the bar 30 for limited oscillatory movement thereon as a horizontal axis. Next, the collar 38 is adjusted so that the tension on the spring 44 is such as to draw the reservoir 22 to the position in which the wick 24 engages the picker spindle 12 for applying lubricating oil from the reservoir 22 to the spindle -12.

The tension on the spring 44 should be enough so that it does not impede the movement of the picker 14 along the spindle 12 when the picker 14 strikes the bar 48 and swings the bar 48 from the full line position shown in FIGURE 3 to the dotted line position which eifects the movement of the reservoir 22 from the position in which the wick engages the spindle 12 to the position in which the wick 24 is out of engagement with the spindle 12.

The reservoir 22 is easily adjusted upwardly and downwardly with respect to the spindle 12 as the wick Wears down.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lubricator mechanism for a picker spindle having a picker slidable therealong, a swingable lubricant reservoir having a lubricant applying means projecting from the bottom disposed so that the lubricant applying means engages said spindle, and an actuator fixedly supported on said reservoir adjacent said lubricant applying means and lying in the path of the picker, sliding movement of said picker toward said reservoir causing engagement of said picker with said actuator and swinging of sa1d reservoir and the lubricant applying means to a position in which the lubricant applying means is out of engagement with said spindle.

2. In a lubricator mechanism for a picker spindle having a picker slidable therealong, a swingable lubricant reservoir having a lubricant applying means projecting from the bottom disposed so that the lubricant applying means engages said spindle, an actuator fixedly supported on said reservoir adjacent said lubricant applying means and lying in the path of the picker, sliding movement of said picker toward said reservoir causing engagement of said picker with said actuator and swinging of said reservoir and the lubricant applying means to a position in which the lubricant applying means is out of engagement with said spindle, and spring means operatively connected to said reservoir for biasing the latter to the position in which the lubricant applying means is in engagement with said spindle.

3. In a lubricator mechanism for a picker spindle having a picker slidable therealong, a swingable lubricant reservoir having a lubricant applying means embodying a wick projecting from the bottom disposed so that the wick engages said spindle, and an actuator fixedly supported on said reservoir adjacent said Wick and lying in the path of said picker, sliding movement of said picker toward said reservoir causing engagement of said picker with said actuator and swinging of said reservoir and the wick to a position in which the Wick is out of engagement with said spindle.

4. In a lubricator mechanism for a loom including a frame, a horizontally disposed picker spindle, and a picker slidable along said spindle, an upstanding reservoir having a lubricant applying meansprojecting from the bottom disposed so that the upper end of said reservoir is above and spaced from said spindle and the lubricant applying means engages said spindle, means connecting said reservoir to said frame for swinging movement about a horizontal axis from the aforesaid position to a position in which said lubricant applying means is out of engagement with said spindle, and an actuator fixedly supported on said reservoir adjacent said lubricant means and lying in the path of the picker, sliding movement of the picker toward said reservoir causing engagement of said picker with said actuator and swinging of said reservoir and the lubricant applying means to a position in which the lubricant applying means is out of engagement with said spindle.

5. In a lubricator mechanism for a loom including a frame, a horizontally disposed picker spindle, and a picker slidable along said spindle, an upstanding reservoir having a wick projecting from the bottom disposed so that the upper end of said reservoir is above and spaced from said spindle and the wick engages said spindle, means connecting said reservoir to said frame for swinging movement about a horizontal axis from the aforesaid position to a position in which said wick is out of engagement with said spindle, and an actuator fixedly supported on said reservoir adjacent said wick and lying in the path of the picker, sliding movement of the picker toward said reservoir causing engagement of said picker with said actuator and swinging of said reservoir and the Wick to a position in which the wick is out of engagement with said spindle.

6. In a lubricator mechanism for a picker spindle having a picker slidable therealong, a swingable lubricant reservoir having a lubricant applying means embodying a wick projecting from the bottom disposed so that the wick engages said spindle, and an actuator in the form of a horizontally disposed arcuately curved bar fixedly supported on said reservoir adjacent said wick and lying in the path of said picker, sliding movement of said picker toward said reservoir causing engagement of said picker with said actuator and swinging of said reservoir and the wick to a position in which the wick is out of engagement with said spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 798,084 Thompson Aug. 29, 1905 1,265,119 Ryon May 7, 1918 2,622,630 Cram Dec. 23, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 410,632 France Mar. 18, 1910 

